Welcoming a New Program Director

“You must teach children how to dream.”

— Olais Meinyali, Program Director for Pamoja Project

Some of you are already familiar with Olais Meinyali, but he may be a new face to others. Pamoja Project's 2024 focus on education required enlisting one of the most effective leaders of programming for children and youth as our Tanzanian Education Program Director.

Olais began working in Tanzanian child welfare in 2008, with training from a German non-profit that was developing programs in our service area. He moved to WAMATA in 2010, where he became the coordinator of the Orphan and Vulnerable Children Department. Watching Olais at work, we soon began to call him "the Pied Piper", since village children would find and follow him wherever he went. Olais made sure the kids in our program received tuition, uniforms and supplies, but also encouragement and supervision through visits to their homes, schools, and an endless stream of text messages. If you visited Olais at home on the weekend you would probably find an extra 8 or 9 village children sharing lunch with his family!

Pamoja Project is thrilled that this vibrant and dedicated leader has agreed to work with us directly as our new Program Director.

Remembering Craig Hale

In Memoriam

On June 29, 2021, board member and Pamoja Project supporter Craig Hale peacefully passed away. Craig had visited Tanzania 5 times over the years, and loved the work Pamoja Project was doing, especially with youth. During his time in Arusha, Craig taught basic carpentry and electrical skills at the Singisi Vocational School, provided several workshops on computer networking at the JR Electronics College, and photographed nearly all of our projects over the years. His warm heart and willingness not only to teach but to learn from the young people he encountered were a huge asset to Pamoja's reputation in the community. He will be missed.

Pamoja Project and COVID in Tanzania

NOTE: Originally written by Carol Parker on July 22, 2020.

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Here we are, well into July, and the COVID situation is going much better in Tanzania than America.

Although new numbers have not been reported since April’s 529 cases, we are not hearing alarm from our Tanzanian partners or friends. We do know that the government is keeping the current numbers under wraps because the presidential election in October could be affected by an increase in cases.

After a 3 month closure, universities opened fully in mid-June, and were followed on June 29th by primary and secondary schools. All students are to be masked, and most are. Hand washing directives are rigorously followed at the schools. And because the students lost 3 months of instruction, many schools have added several hours to the school day and others have added Saturday classes as an effort to bring students back to expected progress before the November national examinations.

Pamoja Project is assisting in the effort to keep our kids safe from the virus. We were asked by a local public elementary school to provide the funds to build 2 hand washing stations, and a handicapped bathroom stall. These additions will benefit the kids long after COVID has run its course.

Tourism has begun again in earnest as international flights have resumed and the country’s largest economic engine looks forward to returning to pre-virus levels. We are hoping that this does not bring an uptick in cases, as Tanzania does not require a period of isolation from arriving visitors.

Pamoja Project has been one of the few things our families could count on. During the last 6 months our staff has continued to provide all the services we offer and has added additional food supplementation where necessary. We have been paying the rent for a few more families than last year, as there have been some financial challenges no one could have foreseen.

Although, sadly, I will not be going to Tanzania this year because of COVID, I continue to receive monthly financial and other reports from our staff. We are incredibly lucky compared to other non-profits, in that we have reserve funds we can use for programming, should some of our other fundraising be impacted by the virus. And we are blessed that Proctor and Gamble, which supports the safe drinking water program, continues to be a wonderful partner.

I hope to have a report on the kids in the next month or so and will let you know what I learn. Stay safe.

Carol

Coronavirus in Tanzania - Part Two

NOTE: Originally written by Carol Parker on April 29, 2020.

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Hello Everyone-

It’s been 6 weeks since the first case of coronavirus was reported in Tanzania.

As of yesterday, the count is 299 cases, with 10 deaths. There is no way for us to know if the virus is wider-spread than the figures state because widespread testing is not being carried out and only those who report to health care facilities and are ill with likely infection are being tested.

Perhaps the absolute best thing the Tanzanian government has done to protect its citizens is to close the borders to visitors and traders. This has limited the potential exposure rate from those who would unknowingly carry the virus into the country, but it comes with a price. Tourism is the biggest industry in the country, and thousands of those employed by tour companies, hotels, and other allied companies are without customers and income. In the long run, it will be impossible to make up for that loss of national financial support.

President John Magufuli is a very devout Catholic. Although he initially closed gatherings of more than 20 people, he decreed that the churches all be opened on Easter, and subsequently called for a 3- day national prayer period to combat coronavirus. The schools, which were originally closed for one month, remain closed.

Our experience of the Tanzanian people as caring and openhearted continues, as every day I receive texts and emails from our friends and partners checking up on how we are doing, and if we are remaining healthy.

Please keep Tanzania in your hopeful thoughts as we move through this time.

Carol